Hi, my name is k33! Looking for a head support for for my elderly friend

kirstin33

Hi i have a lovely elderly neighbour who is 94 years of age and lives with her son who is 65 with cerebral palsy they are both wheelchair bound daily.  I often go round and help do things as much as possible but i have noticed my elderly friend is falling to sleep alot and her head leans forward so uncomfortably that she can never have a good nap she is in a standard wheelchair, we have tried kneck comforters but she dont like them and to put it nicely she is a little stubborn bless her heart (i love her dearly!). So after searching the internet i cant seem to find anything suitable as we need something that can maybe attach to the arm of the wheelchair for her to put a pillow on and rest her head against as she also leans to the side alot so her head leans to the side also! She does have help from the red cross and O.Ts come ect but we never seem to get anywhere as she has a son that has high demands so she gets pushed aside alot and i just want her to have a comfortable nap for once. Thanks in advance for any advice given ?

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community 

It's lovely of you to help out your neighbours

I'm not aware of anything suitable but I haven't looked to be honest 

I don't know if a mobility shop would be able to advise 

I'm a wheelchair user too and the standard NHS ones are not very comfortable 

Can she transfer to a bed or chair maybe a recliner or rise and tilt chair would be ideal 

kirstin33

Hi thanks for reply,  yes she does have the rise and tilt chair which she does sit on when her carers are there but when no one is there she has to be back in her chair as i say she is quite stuborn and will probably try getting out of it herself but she needs help getting up, so i think im just going to ask her son for the numbers of who i can call and get on at them myself about how we can make her more comfortable ?

Cher_Alumni

@kirstin33 Hello there and welcome to our online community, it's lovely to meet you.  It's great that your friend has you to advocate for her needs

You mention that she has input from an O.T. - have they done a recent assessment to see if there is any other aids that would help?  Also, is it something that's been discussed with her GP?  I think they would possibly be my starting points.

Besides this, your friend is entitled to a social care needs assessment from her local authority to see if there's any other support or services she would benefit from.

I can imagine and appreciate her stubborn ways, my nan is much the same and we love her dearly too!

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.  Just to mention, I've tweaked the title of your thread to help others spot it easier and moved it to our Disability aids, equipment and technology category.

janer1967

Maybe see if age UK have any suggestions or as mentioned her ot should be able to help 

I know you said they concentrate on her son 

What about her carers they may have come across this before